Sick of tinsel, carols and talk of virgin birth? In New Zealand, Australia and many other countries, it’s hard to escape Christmas in December. But even if you don’t believe in Christ or a God, religion can still be a powerful force. Research shows that even nonreligious people may hold unconscious beliefs linked to religion that can affect their psychology. By many measures, religion in Australia, New Zealand and the USA is declining – but Christianity still shapes the culture and politics of these societies, from the holidays celebrated to values officially endorsed. It’s not that surprising that religious symbols...

The greatest command, said Jesus, is that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sometimes missing today among many professing Christians is the emphasis on the mind.A great evangelical theologian died December 14, 2017, R. C. Sproul (rhymes with role), the founder of Ligonier Ministries. And I think he exemplifies the notion of loving God with our mind, as well as our other faculties. Even his radio program was called “Renewing Your Mind with R. C. Sproul.”Sometimes one gets the impression that the more religious you are, the less likely you are to be educated. But...

President Trump told reporters that they were allowed to stay for his prayer with Cabinet secretaries on Wednesday because "you need it more than I do." "You need the prayer more than I do, I think. You may be the only ones," he said, to laughter from the Cabinet. "We thank you for the president and for Cabinet members who are courageous, who are willing to face the winds of controversy in order to provide a better future for those who come behind us," Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said in the prayer. "We're thankful for the unity...

A person who gives a gift featuring his or her sacred religious iconography is reaching out, showing kindness and sharing his or her faith with others.For years I have been one of the only Jewish people at my places of employment. I am currently the only Jew who wears a kippah at my office every day. In my heavily Southern Baptist and rural town, one would think I would be quite familiar with the consequences of being such an outsider.But, as any honest minority will tell you, that singular idea of what America must be like simply is not accurate....

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not chosen a church wedding just as a "tick-box exercise", says the archbishop of Canterbury. The Most Rev Justin Welby told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was up to the couple whether he presided over the ceremony - admitting he had dropped the ring at a recent wedding. But he was sure that both Prince Harry and Miss Markle had a "profound seriousness" both about their faith and about their relationship.

The Supreme Court has now heard the arguments in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, a case that pits gay rights against religious rights. But a ruling is not expected until June 2018. That gives us plenty of time to ask ourselves, “Would I lose my livelihood because of my religious convictions? Am I willing to suffer for my faith?” In America, an increasing number of Christians have answered yes to that question, including Jack Philips of Masterpiece Cakeshop. People like this should be commended for their steadfastness and should serve as examples to the rest of the Church: We show love...

A couple of years ago, I sat down with a minister to talk about why so many people were not only losing faith, but literally walking away from their houses of worship and their faith. We both agreed it was a growing crisis with multiple negative consequences. He felt that more and more people were simply losing faith in their “leadership.” Be that political, corporate, or faith-based leadership. They saw and heard from leaders who continually “talked the talk but never personally walked the walk.” He also felt that the basic needs for joy, hope, faith, and a simple human...

No man can serve two masters, the Bible teaches, but Mike Pence is giving it his all....that he recognizes the absurdity of his situation; that he knows just what sort of man he’s working for; that while things may look bad now, there is a grand purpose at work here, a plan that will manifest itself in due time. Let not your hearts be troubled, he seems to be saying. I’ve got this... Richard Land, the president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary and one of Trump’s faith advisers, told me. “I don’t know anyone who’s more consistent in bringing his...

Here's ..side of the musician you didn’t see in the film 'Walk the Line,' released 12 years ago this weekend. Johnny Cash had two loves, and we all met one of them thanks to the biopic “Walk the Line,” which was released in 2005. Her name was June Carter. But Cash had another love. A higher love. One never mentioned by name in the movie: Jesus Christ. There are some hints about that other love in the film. In an early scene, a young Cash, played brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix, is auditioning for the man he hopes might make him...

Question: "What is the prayer of salvation?" Answer: Many people ask, “Is there a prayer I can pray that will guarantee my salvation?” It is important to remember that salvation is not received by reciting a prayer or uttering certain words. The Bible nowhere records a person’s receiving salvation by a prayer. Saying a prayer is not the biblical way of salvation. The biblical method of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have...

"I rewrote hallelujah for our Veterans. Every picture in this video was sent to me by the great members of our Armed Forces who have been supporting me from the beginning. Thank you so much for your service and your support."

Former Faith No More frontman Chuck Mosley has died. After years of sobriety, Mosley passed away on Friday November 9 “due to the disease of addiction,” according to a statement from his family. “He is survived by long-term partner Pip Logan, two daughters, Erica and Sophie and his grandson Wolfgang Logan Mosley,” the note continues. “The family will be accepting donations for funeral expenses.” In a statement, Faith No More shared: “It’s with a heavy, heavy heart we acknowledge the passing of our firmed and bandmate, Chuck Mosley. He was a reckless and caterwauling force of energy who delivered with...

With the awful reality of a new and frightening type of terror attack being perpetrated in the streets of our country, my mind returns to the recent memory of a more peaceful day. On that evening, the gentle breezes rustling through the palm trees was matched in melodious beauty by the crash of the waves against the shore. As if in a symphony, the voices of some 50 worshippers rose in praise to our awesome God as we sang of His goodness at the outdoor service on Little Gasparilla Island. Erica Emmanuel, the pastor’s wife, led us in Hillsong’s “Oceans”:...

This Halloween, Remember That Souls Make Humans Exceptional The holiday of mortality is a time to reflect on the immortal. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originated as the first in a three-day celebration of the dead consisting of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. It is not a remembrance of beings that no longer exist, but an honoring of the faithfully departed and the relationship between the living and those in heaven. The essential element of this is the belief that souls are real, they live on, and the way we live has consequences for...

Since when did the gospel become associated with guns? Since when did the Christian faith become linked to the right to bear arms? Lest I be misunderstood, this article is not about gun control, nor is it about the Second Amendment. I am not asking whether Christians should serve in the military and I am not questioning our right to defend ourselves. I’m simply asking why conservative Christianity – in particular, American evangelical Christianity – is so strongly linked with a passion for guns. There’s certainly no scriptural connection to be made. Again, I’m not advocating for new gun control...

Iconic musician Little Richard is renouncing his past life of sexual immorality, saying he believes same-sex relationships are "unnatural affections." In previous interviews, the famous singer referred to himself as "omnisexual," revealing in an interview with GQ five years ago that he lived a life of perversion, including orgies. But in an extensive interview with Three Angels Broadcasting Network, an Illinois-based Christian and health-oriented television and radio network, Little Richard says he has repented and turned to Jesus Christ for salvation.

Join Freepers throughout the world to pray for PRESIDENT TRUMP and VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE and for AMERICA: All Levels of Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, Health Care Systems and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. —1 John 5:14 Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. Please join us in prayer.

Taylor Benge and his sister survived the massacre in Las Vegas Sunday night, where a gunman killed 58 people and wounded 500 more outside a country music festival. The shooter, who eventually killed himself, aimed at the concertgoers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. His rampage appears to have been meticulously planned.Still shaken, Taylor spoke with CNN anchors John Berman and Kate Boduan Monday morning to offer his eyewitness account. The 21-year-old was at the concert when he said he heard what sounded like fireworks. It wasn't until he saw a man next to him bleeding from...

Several Democrat senators have used the confirmation hearings of the most exclusive club in America to lay down an unconstitutional requirement for qualification to public service. At a hearing in June, Sen. Bernie Sanders questioned the fitness of Wheaton College alumnus Russell Vought for the post of deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Vought had written an article in which he said Muslims "do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned." Sen. Sanders accused Mr. Vought of religious bigotry, saying, "In my view, the statement made by Mr....

Atheism, the rejection of the possibility that Â“GodÂ” exists, has become the dominant thought amongst intellectuals in the past century and has been around longer than most people think. For over 2000 years, it was based on philosophical arguments that can roughly be summed up as the atheist saying, Â“I donÂ’t know how Â‘XÂ’ came to be, but you canÂ’t prove it came from God.Â” This mindset has been highly effective because it places the burden of proof on the theist to prove the positive of GodÂ’s existence, which, superficially, is impossible to do Â– because no evidence exists that...